McIntyre Tennis

Borg/McEnroe Review: A Tennis Film That Delivers For Everyone

By Mike McIntyre

Finally we have a tennis film that delivers for both die-hard fans and outsiders alike. Borg vs McEnroe premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday night and received a rousing round of applause at its conclusion from those in attendance.

While the title leaves much to the imagination, the drama in the hour and forty minute flick did not disappoint as director Janus Metz Pedersen succinctly captures the intensity that fueled both Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe as they collided in the legendary 1980 Wimbledon final. 

The film (unsurprisingly given its Swedish backing) focuses primarily on the inner conflict of the World No. 1 Borg as he attempts to capture his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title. The obsessive-compulsive routines that Borg puts himself through in order to escape the horror of defeat is painful to watch and one cannot but feel pity for the tormented champion. We see a legend who is unable to enjoy his success and who bottles-up almost all of his fears and insecurities as he attempts to thwart the up-and-coming McEnroe. The role of Borg is played convincingly well by look-alike Swedish actor Sverrir Gudnason. It truly did feel like watching the real Borg in action both on and off the court.

On the other side, Shia Labeouf, the more recognized actor of the two, holds his own as the Super Brat American McEnroe. Despite the often distracting side-show that Labeouf's personal antics seem to cause in real-life, he admirably channels McEnroe's on-court theatrics and off-court jealousy that he held for his rival. It seemed almost fitting to have someone who is so volatile off-camera, portraying someone who was so equally unstable on the tennis court.

Both players are shown to be misunderstood in their own unique manner. For Borg, his ice-man demeanor is actually a front that hides his inability to release the emotions that slowly torture him inside.  McEnroe meanwhile is misunderstood as an unfocused and entitled brat when really it is the only way he knows to compete at full intensity without holding anything back. As the Vitas Gerulitas character states about Borg during a bar scene with McEnroe, "They say he's an iceberg but really he's a volcano." Meanwhile Borg shares with his fiancee that McEnroe, "...looks unfocused but it's the other way around."

The film does concentrate excessively so on Borg while leaving us wanting to learn more about the inner demons that McEnroe is also surely fighting. Tennis fans will possibly lament the lack of on-court action until the culminating five set marathon between the two title characters, although the tennis scenes we do see effectively capture the strengths of both athletes in their prime. The title of the film also does not endear itself to non-tennis aficionados and could have been strengthened prior to the official release.

That being said, those in attendance seemed overwhelmingly satisfied with the end product despite the fact that the majority in the audience were unaware of the stature of the Borg vs McEnroe rivalry as well as the outcome of the match. A man sitting near me during the film was regularly fist pumping and cheering for every McEnroe winner during the match versus Borg and there was a collective murmur when it was revealed on-screen that Borg chose to retire roughly a year after his final Wimbledon triumph.

I believe that the film will be well received by critics and movie-goers alike, regardless of whether there is any great familiarity with the characters or their real life exploits past or present. The quality of the acting coupled with the sheer drama that builds throughout and culminates with what seems like an improbable fifth Wimbledon victory for Borg is enough to make this not only a solid tennis film, but a solid film period. 

10 of the Greatest Tennis Rivalries in History

Considered to be a quintessentially English game, tennis has long been labelled as the sport of gentry. A match doesn’t become aggressive until it is well underway, and even then the aggression is only taken to the ball with the bat rather than at the opposing player.  

In spite of its calm demeanour, at first glance, tennis isn’t without its competition. There have been many great rivalries throughout the sports history, not just in individual competitions but throughout the seasons.  

Rivalries can be created in several different ways, occasionally they are long standing and come about when players of equal measure meet on the courts. Sometimes they can spawn as a result of conflicting personalities. They can even be put down to style of game play.  

Almost every great tennis rivalry consists of the world’s greatest players rather than those who are lesser known. It only takes one incident, on one occasion for the media to get hold of a story and run with it. Some of the greatest rivalries are built up not only on the courts, but also by incidents that become sensationalised stories. 

In this article we looked at rivalries from players that are still challenging each other today. We also included some of the greatest rivalries in a long line of major players throughout history.

1. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer  

 The first and ongoing rivalry that has to top our greatest list is the one between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. It is possibly due to consistency throughout their game, as well as their almost equal ability overall. Their rivalry is so well known that they have a page on Wikipedia dedicated to it. 

The pair have faced each other on thirty seven separate occasions throughout their time in the professional game. They battle it out every year to finish in consecutive positions in the world rankings. They also face each other in many ATP tour competitions, often seeded one after the other. 

Of their thirty-seven matches Nadal is on top with twenty-three wins to Federer’s fourteen. Federer has more success on hard courts and grass, whilst Nadal is of course better on clay. These results are somewhat predictable as it is no secret that Federer prefers to play on grass and Nadal favours a clay surface. Nadal isn’t nicknamed the clay king for no reason.

2. Margaret Court and Billie Jean King

A major rivalry in woman’s tennis has been the long standing one between Margaret Court and Billie Jean King. Their conflict in the sport, grew from their first of thirty two matches on the courts, in the 1960’s and through to the following decade. Of their thirty-two matches, Court out played her opponent on twenty two separate occasions.  

Having faced each other in finals, at no less than five grand slam events, the pair were well matched in their abilities. King secured victory over Court, just once, in a grand slam final. This was in the 1968 Australian Open, Women’s Final competition. Just prior to Kings grand slam victory, Court had taken two years out of the game.  

Court and King’s rivalry was well known for two famous matches that took place at Wimbledon.  The first of these two matches was played in 1962, when Billie Jean was eighteen years old, and starring in her second ever women’s singles match at Wimbledon. Seeded first that year, Margret missed out on the chance to progress any further than the opening round, in a shock defeat 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Billie Jean. 

The second of the two great Wimbledon matches between the pair, came in 1970. The rivals battled it out in a bid for the title in the final, when it was Courts turn to finish on top. At the time both players were struggling with injuries that had an impact on their game. King played through a knee injury that would later require surgery, Court played on an ankle that had to be injected with pain killers. 

The rivalry still continues today but for different reasons. Openly gay, Billie Jean King has publically expressed that she is hurt by her former rival’s opinions on same sex marriage. Margaret Court’s religion has a huge impact on her views. Despite the fact that her thoughts could affect her legacy in tennis, Court is highly unlikely to deter from them because of her beliefs.  

Although the two of them have differing opinions, both still respect each other because of their history in tennis.

3. Helen Wills and Helen Jacobs 

Helen Wills' rivalry with Helen Jacobs did not match the intensity of Wills' competition with Suzanne Lenglen. However, that said it was the greater of the two owing to its longevity. 

Wills was the better of the pair and only conceded a single match to Jacobs in a grand slam. It is perhaps because of this, among other points, they became such great rivals.  

With paralleled foundations in life, as well as a passion for tennis, the pair were nothing less than a phenomenon in the sport. Both women spent their informative years in Berkeley, both attended the same University and both trained under the same coach, Pop Fuller.  

The pair faced seven grand slam final matches against each other. Jacobs only victory in a grand slam over her rival, came about in the US championships, when her opponent was forced to withdraw from the game citing back injury. The loss wasn’t taken too well by Wills who apparently snapped at Jacobs when she tried to comfort her following her retirement from the match. 

4. Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras 

With completely different personalities and styles Agassi and Sampras made for one of the greatest rivals ever! 

With a gentlemanly appearance and a well to do nature Sampras commanded the courts with his famous serve and volley skills. On the other hand Agassi was both eccentric and occasionally rebellious in his demeanour. His famous blond locks were his signature look, and his return following a serve was his signature move. 

Because they were different in every way the pair were unable to sustain any kind of relationship on or off the courts. However, they did provide audiences with interesting game play when they faced each other. 

They battled it out to sit at number one in the world rankings for a number of years. Before April in 1995 Sampras had laid claim to the top spot for an impressive eighty two weeks. A position that Agassi took from him, and held on to for thirty weeks, before Sampras managed to win it back. The following year, Agassi again took the position from his rival.  

Throughout their careers they played each other on thirty-four separate occasions, with Sampras finishing on top winning twenty of their matches. His victories over Agassi, included four out of five grand slam titles. 

They played each other 34 times, with Sampras winning 20 of them. They met 16 times in tournament finals, and Sampras won four of their five matchups in Grand Slam finals. 

5. Bill Johnston and Bill Tilden 

As with all major sports America has to be credited with delivering astonishing talent, this is absolutely the case, when it comes to the great nation and their history in tennis.  

Bill Tilden and Bill Johnston were the greatest American representatives in the 1920s. The pair helped to establish the game of tennis in its earlier days.  

Over the course of seven years they came up against each other in the US championships. Johnston was able to secure victory in their first final meeting, However, Tilden went on to win the following five. 

In 1925, the match they played in the US Championships final went down in history as one of their greatest matches ever. It was the last time they would play each other in the final of the competition. Tilden beat Johnston in a spectacular display of five sets ending 4-6, 11-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. 

Because they shared the same Christian name the pair were fondly nicknamed ‘Little Bill’ and ‘Big Bill’ owing to their contrasting heights. 

The pair didn’t always work against each other. In 1920 – 1926 They worked together to represent the US and contribute to a seven year run as Davis Cup Champions. However they were most famously known for their rivalry against each other rather than their achievements together. 

6. Steffi Graf and Monica Seles

Built on a fate of what might have been, the competition between Steffi Graf and Monica Seles began in the early 1990s. The women were at the height of their fame in tennis, well known for their abilities on the courts as well as for their rankings.  

Steffi Graf had her name at the top of the rankings and had sat there comfortably for three years before her rival came along and took hold of the top spot.   

The women met in the finals of three grand slams from 1992-93. They played each other in the French Open followed by Wimbledon and then in the Australian Open, in which Seles beat Graf. 

A shocking turn of events in ‘93 meant that 19-year-old Seles had to retire from the sport for two years. A deranged fan of Graf’s sought revenge on Seles, who at the time had a firm grip on the number one spot. The fan wanted to see Graf back at the top of her game and took it upon himself to ensure it would happen. 

During a match in Germany, the obsessed fan stabbed Monica Seles in the back. Sadly she was unable to return to the game on top form. Following on from her recovery she only managed to win one further title – the Australian Open in 1996. 

The rivalry could have been so much more if it wasn’t for the fanatic that intervened.  

 7. Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall

In terms of longevity the rivalry between Rod Laver and ken Rosewell is unmatched by any other. Having played each other an astonishing 143 times throughout their careers, in both amateur and professional tennis, the pair have to be mentioned in the greatest ever rivalries list. 

Rod Laver was arguably the better player with 80 wins out of the 143 matches.  

One of their most remarkable matches took place in Dallas during 1972. By his own admission Laver claimed this match was one of the most significant in America. It contributed greatly to the game of tennis in the US as we know it today. Lavers Rival claimed the victory on said occasion in a full five set match that thrilled the audience, 6-4, 0-6, 6-3, 6-7, 7-6. A record breaking 23 million viewers tuned in their television sets to watch the rivals battle it out in spectacular fashion.   

8. Serena Williams and Venus Williams

We couldn’t exclude the two sisters that took the world of tennis by storm when they turned professional. Serena Williams and Venus Williams have one of the greatest rivalries ever. Combine the determination that each sister readily displays on court with the natural phenomenon of pure sibling rivalry. 

The sisters have faced each other twenty eight times with Serena, the younger of the two, coming out on top 17-11.  

The pair are famed for their world record. In the 2002 French Open, the sisters faced each other in the women’s final, starting a consecutive run with appearances in the following three final grand slam events. This is the only time in history that four consecutive grand slams have featured the same two female players. 

The media has credited them with being two of the greatest female tennis players ever. The fact they are from the same family in the same era is what makes the rivalry so unique.

9. John McEnroe and Björn Borg 

Nicknamed the fire and ice rivalry, John McEnroe and Björn Borg had a relatively short lived conflict that spanned over the course of four years.  

The pair played each other only 14 times, of which, both players won seven matches. Over the course of three years, 1979-81, the sparring players passed the number one spot to each other on seven occasions.  

The rivalry between them sparked the imagination of tennis fans from around the world, their dynamic on the courts was incredible causing. Together they put on a captivating show. In fact if they came up against each other the impending match became highly anticipated. In their day they were both considered to be the world’s greatest tennis players. 

Borg won five Wimbledon titles in his day using formidable techniques. He was known for his abilities, using extreme topspin on his forehand and an accurate two-handed backhand. He was also famed for his laid back attitude. McEnroe, on the other hand, was credited with his serve and volley skills. He was well known for his bad temper, particularly when things were not going his way in a match. He didn’t think twice about his conduct on the courts and there were often fireworks if he began lost out on points and sets. 

The rivalry didn’t last as long as it could have. At the 1981 US Open finals Borg decided it was time for him to retire from grand slam tennis without a reasonable explanation. The Swedish tennis star was just 25 years old, and arguably in his prime. McEnroe, was 22 that year and had won three of his four grand slam titles in finals against Borg. The fiery player went on to win three further titles but didn’t win another after the age of 25. Coincidentally, the same age his rival was when he quit. 

Borgs leaving the game had a lasting effect on McEnroe, who later claimed that the game was never as good as it had been when Borg was his main competition. 

10. Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova 

Arguably the greatest rivalry in tennis ever, was that between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. It was a fierce competition on the courts that turned into a lasting friendship for the pair, both during their days on the courts, and continuing today.  

The talented women played each other, an astonishing, eighty times during their careers that spanned more than a decade. Navratilova held a 43-37 lead over her rival. Evert favoured clay courts and Navratilova found her finest form on grass.  

The number of times that this pair faced each other wasn’t the only phenomenon that led to the great rivalry they shared. Until Navratilova made her debut, Evert was virtually impossible to beat. Her skills in accuracy were second to none at the time. In great contrast it was Navratilova’s serve and her skills in a volley that set her above the rest.   

 

Perhaps you can experience some of these and future tennis rivalries yourself. Whether you’re with family, friends or with colleagues, experiencing these rivalries first hand would certainly be iconic. Click here to find out more about corporate hospitality packages.  

Canadian Missile: Milos Raonic Rockets up the ATP Rankings

By Mike McIntyre

Talking to John McEnroe a year ago at a tennis exhibition in Hamilton, Ontario, the seven time Grand Slam champion told me that, “if tennis was played on ice, Canada would have a top-ten player.” While his comments were made in jest, there was an unfortunate truth they held as well. Known more for producing hockey stars than top-level tennis players, Canada had no players in the top one hundred of the ATP World Tour singles rankings.

 While we can boast of Daniel Nestor, perhaps the most accomplished doubles player of all-time, there has been a lack of tangible singles results from our country since Greg Rusedski jumped-ship for Great Britain in the mid 1990s.

 Fast forward to the first quarter of 2011 and if you take a look the rankings you’ll notice that Canadian Milos Raonic has seemingly out of nowhere approached the top thirty players in the world. After the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, California in March Raonic was ranked 34^th in the world - the highest singles ranking ever for a Canadian male tennis player. At just twenty years of age Raonic has skyrocketed up the rankings with more attention and enthusiasm than any player since a guy named Rafael Nadal did back in 2004.

 The first indication that Raonic was more than your average player was back in August during the Rogers Cup in Toronto. In a rare moment where a first-round doubles match took centre court, Raonic and his fellow Canadian partner, Vasek Pospisil, faced the unenviable task of facing Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – who at the time were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the singles rankings. Despite whatever nerves they must surely have been feeling, the young Canucks defeated their far more accomplished opponents by a score of 5-7, 6-3, 10-8.

 Raonic finished the year unspectacularly but was taking solid steps in the right direction. He would play Nadal once more, this time in singles competition and was beaten by a respectable score of 6-4. 6-4. After the match Nadal said of Raonic, “You can't compare big servers, everyone has their own serve, but his is unbelievable. I think he will rise in the rankings.”

 It was during the off-season that Raonic was able to take his game to the next level. While he resides in Thornhill, he went to Spain to train with coach and former ATP player Galo Blanco where he took advantage of hitting with seasoned professionals like David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro. The positive results from his hard work were evident at the Australian Open in January where Raonic progressed through three matches of the qualifying draw before advancing all the way to the fourth round – the first Canadian to do so at a Grand Slam since Daniel Nestor did it at Wimbledon in 1999. En route to the final sixteen, Raonic impressively dismissed some seriously experienced competitors including tenth ranked Mikhail Youzhny. Clearly his arsenal contained more than just a big serve.

 Raonic refused to rest on his laurels from Melbourne and proceeded to make the fourth round of an event in Johannesburg and then most impressively won the title a week later in San Jose over Fernando Verdasco - a regular in the top-ten.

 While his results so far this season are impressive, the real excitement with Raonic stem from the enormous potential that tennis fans and the media alike are sensing. Former players like John and Patrick McEnroe, Darren Cahill and even the great Pete Sampras have weighed in on the skill and maturity that Milos’ possesses and the consensus for his potential greatness is unanimous.

 I had the pleasure of catching up with Milos shortly after his first ATP win and he took the time to answer some questions for ProTennisFan. His responses questions demonstrate not only the youthful innocence and exuberance one might expect of someone his age but also a quiet confidence in himself that signifies his belief in what lies ahead.

 ProTennisFan: Let’s start with how you got your beginning in tennis. How old were you when you first took up the sport and who or what sparked your interest?

Raonic: I started playing tennis when I was 8 years old, my dad sparked my initial interest in the sport, and after that my first coach, Casey Curtis believed in me so much and pushed me always new keep getting better and reaching new levels. After I started playing tennis my love for the sport grew, and I could never get enough. I always wanted to play and be on the court.

PTF: What players did you look up to when you were younger and what players today do you admire the most?

Raonic: I looked up to Sampras and I idolized him, he really inspired me and I watched all his televised matches more than once. Today I try to improve and not look up to anyone because I want to beat them and be better then them. But I admire what Federer and Nadal have done for the sport.
 
PTF: It seems as though you took a giant leap forward with your results in the latter half of 2010. To what do you attribute the success that you achieved in the late stages of the year?

 
Raonic: I think I have improved a lot over the last year and I have picked up a lot of experience. I have matured a lot and been able to control my emotions better on court, allowing myself to see my match clearer and therefore adjust my game and play better. This has been a big step for me as well as improving every part of my game and my physical fitness level.

PTF: For tennis fans here in Canada and in Toronto in particular, we remember the terrific doubles match you and Vasek Pospisil had against Nadal and Djokovic. Despite your main focus as a singles player, how meaningful was that match in terms of your confidence?

Raonic: It was big for me, especially recognition wise. It made me more known to Canadian tennis fans and it gave me a taste of beating the top players. I didn't take too much from it because it was doubles and I know singles is very different but it definitely helped me reach my ranking today.

PTF: How has Tennis Canada helped you in your transition from the junior ranks to now competing on the ATP World Tour? Who has been a big help along the way?
 
Raonic: Yeah, they have been supportive financially and morally. They have provided me with facilities to train in Montreal and with coaching. They have also helped me look for coaches and Louis Borfiga and Michael Downey have helped me make big decisions.

PTF: Have any Canadian players in particular been a source of strength for you over the past few years? How close are you guys as a group?

Raonic: The team has been good to me, former player Frederic Niemeyer has been the biggest influence, especially coaching me for the year and helping me with his knowledge and experience. The team is growing and young and we are becoming closer and closer with each Davis Cup tie.
 
PTF: Is it difficult playing for a nation where tennis has not really had a true top-level singles player or does it merely motivate you to be the first to enjoy that breakthrough?

Raonic: I think Canada has a lot of talent and athletic ability, it’s just the kids and families see the success in hockey and they want to go and play hockey. I think if I was able to achieve something big and put tennis up in Canada that could change, so I feel I am sort of a tennis ambassador to Canada. I like the responsibility that comes with it and I hope to be able to make a big change.

PTF: John McEnroe once joked that Canada would have a top-ten player if tennis was played on ice. Why do you think our country has struggled so hard to get to that level and do you feel that we are getting closer to seeing other players like yourself start to make that push?
 
Raonic: Yes, we are getting closer and I feel we will keep getting better and better, we have the environment and the facilities, and we just need to keep working hard and believing. We need that confidence and swagger that Canadian hockey players have.

PTF: You’ve mentioned before how happy you are to represent Canada, but being born in Montenegro, how do you deal with the questions that I’m sure come up regarding your options of playing there as well?
 
Raonic: I always reply the same, I play for Canada and I will continue to play for Canada.

PTF: What would you be doing if you weren’t a tennis player at the moment?
 
Raonic: Studying for a finance degree.

PTF: What aspects of being a “normal” 20 year old do you miss out on?
 
Raonic: Not much, my life is pretty amazing and fun, but I would love to have the college experience. But playing tennis is much more fun for me.

PTF: You’ve enjoyed your first title on the ATP Tour; you’ve cracked the top-forty, become the highest ranked Canadian singles player ever and made it to the 4th round of a Grand Slam. Which accomplishment this season has meant the most to you and why?
 
Raonic: The ATP title, because it’s the type of goal you dream about since you were young and it was the only moment out of all of them that made me really emotional.
 
PTF: What perks or benefits have you enjoyed since becoming more well-known on tour? Are there any negative aspects to your newfound notoriety as well?
 
Raonic: I make time to do a few more fun things, like go to the zoo, safari and other local things that are fun, also it’s easier to book practice courts, and you don't have to worry as much about sharing. There isn't much negative at all.

PTF: Have you made any spontaneous purchases with any of your winnings from either the Aussie Open or San Jose yet or have you even had time to enjoy any of it just yet?
 
Raonic: Naw, I have just enjoyed more expensive steaks. I love a good steak!

PTF: Not sure if you heard Brad Gilbert label you the “Maple Leaf Missile”? Any thoughts on that nickname? Do you have another existing nickname we should use instead?
 
Raonic: I like the nickname, I have a few others. In Spain they call me "avatar" because of my long legs and height.

PTF: What kind of schedule do you plan on following this year on tour? How does your recent success change (if at all) the tournaments you plan to enter?
 
Raonic: I will do a full clay court swing all the way through to Roland Garros starting in Monte Carlo. And then off to the grass courts. I look forward to it. The only thing that's changed is I won't have to play qualifying.

PTF: Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions Milos and good luck the rest of the year!

 

Sampras Eases Past Agassi at BNP Paribas Showdown in New York

By Mike McIntyre

It was like looking through a time-warp Monday night in New York. Madison Square Garden opened its hallowed gates for an evening of classic tennis between some of the greatest players to ever pick-up a racquet. 

The BNP Paribas Showdown tried to re-ignite legendary rivalries between Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe as well as Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. With 37 Grand Slams between the four players there is no doubting their past accomplishments. Yet while on paper the idea seemed intriguing, in real life it did not quite translate as planned. The evening did however prove that tennis still has a place at MSG and that the people of New York would love to watch the sport live more than once a year.

Lendl and McEnroe kicked things off at 7pm as the arena was still filling up. Unfortunately the match was nothing close to any of their gripping encounters from the 1980s that included 20 ATP World Tour finals. After years of hitting golf, rather than tennis balls, Lendl clearly lacked the necessary match practice to keep up with McEnroe and found himself in a 0-4 hole pretty quickly.

The lack of competitiveness had a distinct hand in keeping the crowd subdued as they collectively wondered if we'd see anything that relatively resembled what one might expect from two men who hold 15 Grand Slam titles between them. It's one thing to watch a dull match when there is at least something on the line, but in an exhibition it becomes just plain painful pretty quickly.

Just when it appeared that Lendl might be picking his game up slightly, McEnroe retired leading 6-3 with an ankle injury he had sustained while warming up two hours prior to the event. The fact that an injured Johnny Mac was able to still dominate his opponent spoke volumes to the disparity that existed between the two on this night.

Almost as disappointing as the lack of competition between these two old rivals was the complete absence of any of McEnroe's typical bad-boy antics. No cursing the umpire or an unsuspecting spectator. No thrown racquet or disputed line-calls. McEnroe's silence was even more surprising than that of the crowd but I guess it's hard to blow a gasket when you're leading so comfortably.

The main tilt between Agassi and Sampras got underway around 9pm and just from watching the warm-up you could tell that this would be a much more skillful match. Aside from the fact that these two American legends are roughly twelve years younger than their opening act, they have both been playing competitive exhibition matches of late.

Agassi played twice against retired head-case Marat Safin in Taiwan in January, while Sampras played two weeks ago against current pro Gael Monfils in San Jose. The two were clearly trying to arrive in New York prepared yet not for what some media had anticipated as a grudge match after last year's embarrassment in the "Hit for Haiti" fundraiser.

For those of you who missed that one, here's a reminder of the bad blood that surfaced between these two usually classy guys. Things start playfully at the 1:32 mark of the clip when Sampras shows off his sense of humor by imitating Agassi's pigeon-toed walk. I have to admit that at the time I thought it was refreshing to see Pete show us his lighter side. Unfortunately Agassi responded by taking things to another level by making reference to Pete being a bad tipper. This statement was all the more hurtful since it was written in Agassi's autobiography which had already caused tension between the two. Sampras proceeded to aim a serve directly at Agassi and the mood for the rest of the evening was one of tense confusion as the crowd struggled to figure out if the two were seriously airing out their differences or not.

This time around fortunately the two stuck to playing tennis and did their best to rekindle memories from their glory days. For Sampras, he aptly proved he still has his greatest weapon of all - his serve. Agassi admitted after the match that while other parts of Pistol Pete's game might not be as vicious as they once were, the one device that always frustrated him still packed a punch. Agassi too showed us glimpses into the past with some torrid forehand returns that from time to time left Sampras flat-footed.

Mostly though, this was a night where Sampras was the sharper of the two. He moved well for a 39 year-old and often found his way to the net where he still could put away the majority of his volleys. His footwork seemed solid and he displayed a real desire to compete. Agassi did too, but more often than he would have liked saw his shots fall short of their intended targets. Sampras would prevail 6-3, 7-5.

While it was not the three set nail-bitter that fans were hoping for, it still brought us back to the greatest American tennis rivalry of the past twenty years. One more time Agassi and Sampras managed to divide a crowd's allegiances almost evenly down the middle. Chants of "Come on Andre!" and "Let's Go Pete" were being traded back and forth in the stands just as frequently as the two players traded their groundstrokes down on the court.

For the players, it was clear that their bodies would no longer perform the same reflexes and reactions that they once did so routinely. That's bound to happen when you've been away from the game for eight years like Sampras and five for Agassi and only find the time for a few exhibitions a year. The most difficult thing for some fans to watch in friendly matches like this one isn't that the players are no longer what they used to be, but rather that there is really nothing on the line for two great former champions to play for.

Despite the lament for something more meaningful to validate this tennis showdown, Agassi was able to find one word to explain why we were all here today: nostalgia. During changeovers the jumbo-tron played clips of their greatest Grand Slam matches against each other. Not only did these highlights enthral the crowd as they reflected on the past but Agassi and Sampras as well. My favorite image of the night was of the two sitting in their chairs with Sampras leading 5-4 in the second set and both simultaneously straining their necks to watch a montage of their 2001 U.S. Open quarterfinal match on the jumbo-tron. Even within a match that was not yet finished, nostalgia for what they once had together made them pause and reflect. The fact that they shared that moment with 17,000 tennis fans tonight in New York is meaning enough for me.

 

Meeting John McEnroe

By Mike McIntyre

It’s not every day that you get to meet someone you grew up idolizing, in fact for many it is an event that can only be dreamed about. For me, John McEnroe was as fascinating a sports personality as there ever was. When I found out this past spring that he would be playing a tennis exhibition against Jim Courier in nearby Hamilton, Ontario, I realized this was as good a chance as I would ever have to meet this tennis legend.

My first memories of John McEnroe are in fact some of the earliest ones I still retain from my childhood. They consist of sitting on the living-room couch with my father watching McEnroe in the late 1980s during Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. I don’t remember specific opponents or outcomes, merely the infectious and aggressive personality that was Johnny Mac. While he was past winning Grand Slams at this stage of his career, his bad-boy image on the court was still in full effect and it mesmerized me as a child. It was rare for me to see any adult I knew acting in such a manner and his behavior seemed to resonate with the crowd despite its questionable nature.

Soon enough I was doing my best McEnroe imitation on the tennis court, which failed to amuse my father very much at all. There were many a Sunday afternoon where my time on the public tennis courts ended prematurely as my racquet took a beating yet somehow managed to stay in one piece. I’m not attributing my childish immaturity to what I saw on television, but inside I think I partially felt I was within my rights to behave in such a way given what John McEnroe got away with on the ATP Tour.

Fast forward twenty years or so and McEnroe is still taking his ambivalent, me-against-the-world act on the road. At times it is hard to tell if he’s merely giving the crowd what they so clearly expect from him or if he just can’t behave in any other way once he gets into a competitive battle on court.

As I waited in the media room at Copps Coliseum in early May, I wondered which John McEnroe I would be interviewing on this day. Would it be the amicable announcer that we all love listening to on television or would it be the gruff, rough-around-the-edges McEnroe that appears on court.

It turned out to be somewhat of a mixture between the two personalities. When he walked into the room I was taken aback by how old and even dishevelled he appeared. It looked to me like McEnroe just rolled out of bed and could have probably used a shower and a coffee before talking tennis. My first couple of questions seemed to wake him from his slumber and it took a few minutes for his answers to come into focus. Once they did however, I was quite pleased with our conversation and the resulting Q&A. While I struggled to get a smile out of him, Johnny Mac looked me straight in the eye and answered each question I threw his way.

Pro Tennis Fan: So first off John, can you talk about what it’s like to be back in Canada and some of your memories north of the border from playing here during your career.

John McEnroe: Oh. It hasn’t been that long. I played a couple of times at Casino Rama and we played an exhibition at the Rogers Cup. But obviously the main memories were playing the Canadian Open. So I had a lot of good moments and it was usually a good stepping stone to playing well at the U.S. Open, so we go way back.

PTF: What are your thoughts on the lack of a Canadian presence on both the ATP and WTA Tours right now and why it always seems so tough for Canadians to crack into the top hundred on both sides.

McEnroe: I don’t really have a good answer other than obviously you don’t have the year round play that you would at some places, let’s say in the States or other places in the world. But I came from New York which is a similar type of climate as here or Toronto. I think you need to feed off other players so perhaps the size of Canada (makes it difficult) and maybe the need to have better competition. I would think there should be no reason, I’m sure there are some good facilities in this area or in Toronto that there’s no reason why there couldn’t be. It is somewhat surprising.

PTF: There’s too many hockey players perhaps?

McEnroe: Yeah that’s it. Maybe they switch to hockey too often.

PTF: What if we played on ice?

McEnroe: If you played on ice you’d have a top ten player.

PTF: Are you worried at all in the States that they’re headed towards a similar sort of situation with the Williams sisters getting older, and Roddick and the Bryan Brothers approaching their thirties that there might not be someone there - that you don’t have those players there to fill that void in the next few years?

McEnroe: Yeah. I think people are worried generally. We had a lot of success in the past and it seems that the assembly line that you used to take for granted you realize that you don’t just snap your fingers. A lot of other countries have put more resources into it and you need to keep promoting the game in a way such that little kids would want to play it and you get better athletes in it. We haven’t done that great a job for a while with that, but we should have taken better advantage of the Williams sisters success in my opinion. That’s an extremely unusually story and it doesn’t seem like we have a lot to show for it.

PTF: If you were commissioner of the sport of tennis what kind of changes might John McEnroe make to improve the marketability of the game?

McEnroe: There’s a lot of things but marketing is the key thing. If you look at hockey, if you look at basketball, a lot of the top sports have a lot of foreign players playing more so than there was in the past. With baseball, it’s not as if the game has fallen apart, you could make the argument that it’s bigger than ever. So if your top players don’t happen to be American it doesn’t mean that it should be hopeless. People would want to come and see it. So there’s a whole lot of things that I would try to do but I would certainly make more of an effort to try to in the United States - it’s a key market. So there’s no doubt that I would try to somehow try to get better athletes playing and to make the game more available.

PTF: How much longer do you see yourself playing these types of seniors events that you’re doing today?

McEnroe: Well there’s a difference. This is a different situation. You go out there more because I feel like I’m fit enough to do it on a reasonable level and it’s nice to compete sometimes. But this is hardly like you’re out there trying to be the best player in the world at your sport still and winning majors. This is more icing on the cake than anything else. I feel like I’m in as good a shape as I’ve been in ten years so I’m able to do this. This is sort of like playing half a match. So if you look at it that way it’s far easier to pull off. I can do this occasionally, so if there’s a place where there’s a history or conversely hasn’t been any tennis, either way you can make an argument where it’d be nice to come and try to do it once in a while.

PTF: Are we going to expect any antics from you on the court tonight, any of the old McEnroe coming out?

McEnroe: You know they pay me extra for that.

PTF: So much per racquet smashed?

McEnroe: Exactly.

PTF: Do you have any regrets about any of the bad boy image you had back in the 1980s?

McEnroe: I think everybody has regrets about something, but all in all it’s worked out pretty well.

PTF: One last question. You made a doubles appearance a couple of years ago with Bjorkman in San Jose which was pretty successful. Do you ever think about coming back out for an ATP tournament like that?

McEnroe: Not much, because if I wanted to do that I would want to do it at the majors and I’m pretty busy doing the commentary so it doesn’t work well. But I still think I could do the doubles. This is far more difficult playing singles.

PTF: Well good luck tonight.

McEnroe: Thank you, take care.

McEnroe Comments Land Him In Hot Water

By Mike McIntyre

John McEnroe has sparked a bit of a stir with his comments prior to the U.S. Open regarding female tennis players. I'm not sure why his words about the rigors of the scheduling issues in tennis were strictly directed at the WTA Tour. Clearly with the amount of injuries on the men's side this year I would think the ATP Tour should also re-evaluate the length of their season.

Here's what Johnny Mac had to say on the matter:

"Women have it better in tennis than any other sport, but you shouldn't push them to play more than they're capable of playing. The game has become more physical than it's ever been and then you deal with what is thrown out not only from the opponent but the expectations they have for themselves. You're asking too much of the women.

"They should be required to be in less events, there should be less events for the women. It seems it takes an actual meltdown on the court or women quitting the game altogether before they realize there's a need to change the schedule."

McEnroe Defeats Courier in Canadian Exhibition

By Mike McIntyre

The 1st Annual Legends of Tennis Classic

"Oh Jesus," a fan yelled midway through the second set of an exhibition match between tennis legends John McEnroe and Jim Courier in Hamilton, Ontario.

"I hate to break it to you, but I don't think he's gonna visit us tonight," Courier replied.

Divine intervention of some kind was going to be needed by the 39 year old Courier in his quest to beat McEnroe, who at the age of 51 seemed to be the fresher and more determined of the two. McEnroe would win easily by a score of 6-3, 6-4 and in the process remind fans why they either loved or hated the notorious bad boy of tennis.

Grumpy from the get-go, McEnroe walked a fine line between displaying his intense desire to win versus his well crafted act of the super-villain. Fans weren't sure whether to be amused with his antics or appalled that at his age he is still trying to go through the motions of the John McEnroe they remembered from the 1970s and 80s.

Distracted by an abnoxious fan who felt compelled to yell out as he hit his serve, McEnroe became incensed in only the third game of the match.

"It didn't take you long to ruin the match," McEnroe said after the chair umpire denied his request for a service let.

In the very next game he upped the ante by calling the same umpire a "f@#$% clown." Nothing the kids haven't heard before, right?

While McEnroe allowed himself to get worked up at every opportunity and spent most of the night looking like a forced caricature of his former self, his play spoke louder than his words by the end of the evening.

His well-placed first serves stung Courier throughout the match despite likely giving away 20mph or more in speed to his opponent in that department. McEnroe used his years of experience at the net to his advantage while Courier looked as if he had never volleyed before in his life.  

The most dangerous shot in McEnroe's arsenal however was without a doubt his drop-shot that Courier stopped even trying to get to by the second set. It seemed he threw one of those in almost every game or two and they worked all night long.

Courier had more pop on his serves and a more powerful game in general, but seemed to lack the energy and precision of his older opponent. One area where the four-time Grand Slam champion did enjoy some success was bantering with the crowd and unlike McEnroe actually appeared to enjoy himself.

After the match Courier was sarcastically asked if the loss was among the most difficult of his career. He replied by accurately noting, "It was a bitter pill to swallow...losing to a bitter pill."

So is it all an act that McEnroe feels compelled to uphold or his he simply a 51 year old version of Peter Pan who refuses to grow up? It didn't really seem to matter on this night as the sparse crowd of around 3,000 spectators left the building with a simultaneous sense of being entertained and bewildered by the behavior of one of tennis' legends.

McEnroe and Courier to Play Legends of Tennis in Hamilton, Ontario

By Mike McIntyre

You can not be serious! John McEnroe is coming to Canada.

It's not often that Canada has the opportunity to showcase some of the most entertaining tennis stars in the world. Our hockey-crazed nation does host an annual Masters 1000 event on both the ATP and WTA Tours in August. Each year the best men's and women's players in the game alternate between Montreal and Toronto for a fantastic showcase of their vast talent. Aside from those two weeks (which, starting in 2011 will be run simultaneously in each city) there really isn't much tennis exposure at home for Canadians to enjoy.

That changes on Saturday May 8th with the first annual Legends of Tennis in Hamilton, Ontario, showcasing former Grand Slam champions Jim Courier and John McEnroe. The event is being held indoors at Copps Coliseum a venue mostly known for its hockey games and rock concerts. 

The 39 year old Courier retired from professional tennis in 2000 and his illustrious career included four Grand Slams including two French Open and two Australian Open titles. He also spent a total of 58 weeks ranked number on in the world in 1992 and 1993.

The real drawing card of this event is certainly John McEnroe, who at age 51 is still a formidable presence on the tennis court. Since retiring from the ATP Tour in 1992, McEnroe has remained active in the sport between playing in exhibition matches and his successful broadcasting career. A seven time Grand Slam singles winner, McEnroe also captured 70 doubles titles on tour.

An opening match between former NHL players Tie Domi and Claude Lemieux will get things started. An interesting choice for the opening act to say the least. 

Tickets are running between $35 and $95 depending on what section you're looking for and can be purchased from Ticketmaster.

Djokovic Makes Nice With New York

By Mike McIntyre

Novak Djokovic officially made-up with tennis fans in New York on Monday night at the U.S. Open. Following his 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 thrashing of Radek Stepanek in the night session on Arthur Ashe stadium, Djokovic returned to his fun-loving, impersonating old self by performing an impressive John McEnroe routine.

Djokovic had the crowd laughing throughout as he displayed McEnroe's over-exaggerated service motion, berated a ball kid for taking too long to provide him with a tennis ball, and even let loose a trademark "You cannot be serious!"

Afterwards McEnroe accepted the Djokovic "challenge" to step onto the court and hit a few balls. McEnroe emerged to thunderous applause and played a few points in his shirt, tie and dress pants.

Whether spontaneous or calculated, Djokovic was clearly successful in winning over the New York crowd following his self-imploding interview a year ago after defeating American Andy Roddick. 

It was nice to see Novak back to his old-self even if just for a night. Ever since his Aussie Open win in January 2008 it seems like the world number four has become slightly more serious, arrogant and tense on and off the court. Last night was a welcome reversal for Djokovic and I believe helped him get back that much needed crowd support that players can use to their advantage in New York.

While I don't expect this publicity stunt to suddenly turn Djokovic into the darling of the New York faithful, it should at least bring him back to neutral ground where his future behavior will dictate the crowd's response. 

His next match is against Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals.

U.S. Open Set to Begin

The last Slam of the year kicks off tomorrow in New York - are you ready?

Here are John McEnroe's U.S. Open picks and another article that talks about the Andre Agassi celebration planned for Monday night.

As for day 1, things kick off on Arthur Ashe Stadium at 11am ET with Viktoriya Kutuzova up against the comeback kid, Kim Clijsters. Not before 1pm we'll get Devin Britton against five-time defending champion Roger Federer, followed by Serena Williams against Alexa Glatch.

In the evening, Venus Williams takes on Vera Dushevina at 7pm ET, followed by Andy Roddick versus Bjorn Phau.

Enjoy Day 1!

Mike